Threats to Dolphins

As climate change[1] causes the seas and oceans warm, dolphins are being seen more frequently in colder waters outside their historic ranges. Due to the rapidly rising ocean temperatures, the dolphin’s primary food sources are seeking deeper cooler waters. Scientists are concerned that the dolphins will have difficulty adapting as quickly as necessary to find new feeding grounds to sustain their populations. Some dolphins that live in areas where rivers and oceans meet, known as brackish waters, are also losing habitat as ocean levels are rising due to global warming.

REASONS FOR HOPE

Dolphins are one of the most iconic species of the marine world. With their playful nature and high intelligence dolphins have captivated the hearts of people of all ages from all over the world. Due to their popularity, many countries are researching and monitoring dolphins to ensure their survival. In April 2009 biologists working in Bangladesh found a thriving population of 6,000 Irrawaddy dolphins, which were thought to be critically endangered, off the coast as part of a monitoring project started in 2004.